Roswell, New Mexico Season 4 Episode 10 Review: Down in a Hole

Despite the network’s heavy advertising about Alex’s whereabouts leading into Roswell, New Mexico Season 4 Episode 10, “Down in a Hole,” our favorite airman is still missing in action. 

There is a pacing issue with this series that always becomes more obvious as its seasons near their end. This episode is the perfect example of why the writing staff is too ambitious with its mythology for a 13-episode story.

A majority of “Down in a Hole” boringly dumps information on us. The amount of strange science and lore that Roswell, New Mexico relies on when it doesn’t have to is ridiculous. 

Alien clues pop up conveniently, which would feel contrived, but I barely understand what is happening, so I couldn’t tell you if it even makes sense. 

The audience doesn’t need long, convoluted, fake science to enjoy the show. We actually appreciate the story more without it. 

“Down in a Hole” feels like it came too late, while also feeling like it could improve by tightening up the plot. 

Instead of wasting time on Tezca’s villain backstory, the story would benefit from learning why she threw Alex in quicksand to begin with. We still do not know what his role is in this. 

I think I can speak for the audience when I say that we do not care about Tezca’s pain. We care about the well-being of a character we have adored since the start of the series, who Tezca sent away eight episodes ago with zero explanation. 

“Down in a Hole” gives emotional beats to Bonnie and Tezca, characters who matter very little to the overall story, instead of allocating deserved screen time to aspects such as Michael’s grief, Maria’s losses, or Kyle’s struggles. 

The only scene in this episode that feels like the Roswell, New Mexico that we know and love is the argument between Kyle and Michael about Alex. 

Kyle’s dedication to Michael and Alex’s love story is beautiful. A decade earlier, Kyle was bullying Alex for his sexuality, but now he wholeheartedly supports his best friend’s relationship and fights for their love as Michael struggles to find hope.

Kyle: But you know who is reaching back? Alex. To you. Now he is out there somewhere doing his damndest to reach you through Maria. Every bit as determined to be with you as you are with him. That’s powerful. So the minute you want to start giving up the faith, I’ll keep it. For the both of you. 

These are the types of scenes that make Alex’s disappearance hurt a little less. If the show wants to kidnap its leads, then it needs to deliver on the proper reactions from the ensemble. 

This episode gravely suffers because it pushes Liz to a cruel and selfish place, questioning why we should even root for our heroine. 

As Liz gives into her darker impulses for greatness, violates her sister, and implodes her relationship with Max, she completely drops her search for Alex, which is disappointing after all of their years of friendship. 

While her storyline pushes her to a dark place that she’ll inevitably have to atone for, this bizarre twist shouldn’t take precedence over the alien dimension arc that we’ve been waiting for answers about since Roswell, New Mexico Season 4 Episode 2, “Fly.” 

Not long ago, Max promised to help save the love of his brother’s life — where is that loyalty now? He is nowhere to be found in the search. 

Liz’s descent into madness defeats the purpose of Roswell, New Mexico Season 4 Episode 9, “Wild, Wild West,” which now feels like a wasted hour in this final season.

It also undermines the show’s attempt to honor Alex, who is sidelined in his own disappearance. His friendships and epic romance deserve more than a few lines of dialogue each episode. 

These two storylines should not happen simultaneously if the intention is for an “all hands on deck” approach. The group is pretty evenly split between storylines.  

Overall, “Down in a Hole” has too much unnecessary exposition and not enough active progress.

Roswell, New Mexico‘s refusal to give us concrete hints about where Alex is lowers any stakes that this storyline has. At this point, all we care about is saving him, which is unfortunate because there is wasted potential to drop clues as Dallas and Bonnie explore the new dimension. 

While Michael’s decision to risk it all for Alex is very romantic, this twist lacks the tension it needs because it came too late. It is well past earned by now. 

Stray Thoughts

• The wig that Nathan Dean wears for Jones is hilarious because it is terrible. 
• I want so much more for Isobel this season that it physically hurts me. 
• Liz and Max simply do not understand each other. If this season proves anything, it’s that these two are no epic romance. 
• Michael’s console took him home — to Alex. Their love is this show’s saving grace, even as it barely receives the focus it deserves. 
• My English Lit professor would be so proud that I identified at least five examples of a deus ex machina while watching this episode. 

What did you think of this episode of Roswell, New Mexico? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Roswell, New Mexico airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW.

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